He
admired that saint-like ignorance of everything, that artless and frank
confidence which doubted nothing. She had commenced by wounding him,
unconsciously, it is true, but he had quite forgotten that.
He was really an upright man, as good as the best, as is proved from
the fact that he trembled at the moment of unveiling the fatal truth. He
hesitated to pronounce the words which, like a whirlwind, would overturn
the fragile edifice of this young girl's happiness. He who had been so
humiliated, so despised, he was going to have his revenge; and yet
he did not experience the least feeling of a shameful, though easily
understood, satisfaction.
"And if I should tell you, mademoiselle," he commenced, "that M. Albert
is not innocent?"
She half-raised herself with a protesting gesture.
He continued, "If I should tell you that he is guilty?"
"Oh, sir!" interrupted Claire, "you cannot think so!"
"I do think so, mademoiselle," exclaimed the magistrate in a sad voice,
"and I must add that I am morally certain of it."
Claire looked at the investigating magistrate with profound amazement.
Could it be really he who was speaking thus.
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